Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 5 May 2019

This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 3 and 4 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.
• Compared with the previous 24 hours, between the evenings of 4 and 5 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw fresh damage from shelling to houses in Dokuchaievsk and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka.
• Small-arms fire was directed at an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle near Zaitseve.
• The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The Mission recorded small-arms fire and explosions inside the Zolote disengagement area.
• The SMM saw mines, including for the first time, near Krymske, Prychepylivka and Zholobok.
• It saw demining activities near Myrne and mine hazard signs near Berezivka, Bohdanivka and Chermalyk, some of them new.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining activities near Katerynivka, as well as to enable the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• In Dnipropetrovsk region, the SMM monitored a court hearing in which a foreign national was sentenced to prison for fighting for the armed formations.

• Restrictions of the Mission’s access continued in all three disengagement areas. The SMM was also restricted at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and in Naberezhne, and at a border crossing point near Izvaryne.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 3 and 4 May, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (about 130), compared with the previous reporting period (about 250 explosions). Nearly half of the ceasefire violations were recorded at south-south-westerly and south-easterly directions of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk), including an undetermined explosion at an estimated range of 2-3km south-south-east assessed as within 500m of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk), north-westerly directions of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk) and southerly directions of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol).

Between the evenings of 4 and 5 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including fewer explosions (about 70), compared with the previous 24 hours. Over three quarters of ceasefire violations were recorded at south-easterly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), easterly directions of Maiorsk (government-controlled, 45km north-east of Donetsk) and southerly directions of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 3 and 4 May, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including more explosions (about 50), compared with the previous reporting period (11 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas east-south-east of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk).

Between the evenings of 4 and 5 May, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations, however, more explosions (about 70), compared with the previous 24 hours. All of the ceasefire violations were recorded at south-westerly directions of Kriakivka (government-controlled, 38km north-west of Luhansk), southerly directions of Popasna and north-westerly directions of Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk).

Fresh craters and damage from shelling to houses in Dokuchaievsk and Zolote-5/Mykhailivka

On 4 May, about 1.5m south of an uninhabited house at 13 Lesi Ukrainky Street in the south-western part of Dokuchaievsk (non-government-controlled, 30km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw a fresh crater assessed as caused by a 120mm mortar round but could not assess the direction of fire. The metal roof and stone walls of the south-western part of the house were collapsed and broken. About 5m south-west of 13 Lesi Ukrainky Street, at an inhabited house at 11 Lesi Ukrainky Street, the SMM saw fresh damage (a hole about 20cm in diameter) in the north-west facing part of the roof of the house, assessed as caused by shrapnel or debris from the explosion.  

Across the street at 14 Lesi Ukrainky Street, the SMM saw a second fresh crater about 5m north-west of an inhabited house. About 25m north-east of the house, at 16 Lesi Ukrainky street, the SMM saw two shattered north-facing windows of an inhabited house, assessed as caused by shrapnel or a blast wave.

About 25m north-north-west of the previously mentioned house, at 15 Lesi Ukrainky Street, the SMM saw a hole (about 25cm in diameter) in the southern end of the bathroom ceiling and a corresponding hole in a northern wall inside of the same room. The SMM assessed the damage as fresh but could not determine the cause. About 30m north-east of the aforementioned house, at 17 Lesi Ukrainky Street, the SMM saw a 40cm hole in the edge of the south-west-facing part of the roof, as well as two shattered south-facing windows of the house, assessed as caused by a blast wave.

About 40m west-north-west of 17 Lesi Ukrainky Street, at 26 Kotovskoho Street, the SMM saw a third fresh crater about 5m south-west of an uninhabited house, assessed as caused by a 120mm mortar round, but could not assess the direction of fire. About 2m north-west of the crater, the SMM saw an uprooted tree and a large hole in the south-east facing side of a garage, assessed as caused by shrapnel and a blast wave. Five residents of the damaged houses and neighbouring houses separately told the SMM that they had been at home when shelling had begun on the night of 3 May and that members of the armed formations had cleaned debris from the area of the impacts on 3 May.

On the same day, on the south-western edge of Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), about 500m east of the western edge of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw two fresh craters assessed as caused by 82mm mortar rounds originating from a west-south-westerly direction in the yard about 5m east of a two-storey inhabited apartment building at 15 Lizy Chaikinoi Street. The SMM saw two 82mm mortar tailfins, as well as shrapnel in and around the two craters, and seven shattered east-facing windows. About 100m east-south-east of the building, at 8 Lizy Chaikinoi Street, the SMM saw two shattered east-facing windows of another two-storey inhabited apartment building. Three residents (mixed ages and genders) separately told the SMM that they had been at home when shelling had taken place in the early morning of 4 May.

Small-arms fire directed at SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Zaitseve

During the day on 4 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight near Zaitseve (government-controlled, 62km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1.6km north-east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which was flying about 1.6km north-east of its position. The SMM safely landed the UAV.*

Disengagement areas[2]

While in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) on the evening of 3 May, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion at an estimated range of 5-7km south-west. The SMM was unable to assess whether the explosion was inside or outside the disengagement area. Positioned inside the disengagement area on 4 and 5 May, the SMM observed calm situations.

During the day on 4 May, positioned on the northern and eastern edges of the disengagement area near Zolote, the SMM heard 20 shots of small-arms fire and 19 explosions (17 undetermined and two assessed as outgoing mortar rounds), all assessed as inside the disengagement area.

Positioned near the disengagement area close to Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk) on 4 May, the SMM observed a calm situation.[3]  Positioned north of the disengagement area on 5 May, the SMM heard ten bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire assessed as within 5km of the disengagement area’s periphery.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

5 May

The SMM saw a towed howitzer (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Dubovo-Vasylivka (73km north of Donetsk).

Non-government-controlled areas

3 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• seven multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) in a training area near Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) and
• eight MLRS (BM-21) near Sadovyi (57km south-west of Luhansk).

4 May

The SMM saw five tanks (T-72), five self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm), ten towed howitzers (five D-30 and five 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm), five MLRS (BM-21), five surface-to-air missile systems (9K35 Strela-10) and two anti-tank missiles (9K111 Fagot, 122mm) in the centre of Luhansk city.

Beyond withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Non-government-controlled areas

3 May

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• 12 tanks (T-64), seven self-propelled howitzers (2S1), 12 towed howitzers (D-30) and three surface-to-air missile systems (9K35) in a training area near Miusynsk (see above); and
• two tanks (T-64), three anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), a self-propelled howitzer (2S1), the barrel and turret of a self-propelled mortar (2S9 Nona-S, 120mm) being mounted on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (MT-LB) and 17 towed howitzers (nine 2A65 and eight 2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) near Khrustalnyi (formerly Krasnyi Luch, 56km south-west of Luhansk).

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

3 May

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted five infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) (BMP-2) and two APCs (MT-LB) near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk).

5 May

The SMM saw:

• an IFV (BMP-1) and an armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined) near Zolote (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 4 May 2019), and
• an APC (BTR-70) in Raihorodka (34km north-west of Luhansk).

Non-government-controlled areas

3 May

An SMM mid-range UAV spotted two IFVs (BMP-1) in a field about 3km north-north-east of Zholobok (47km west of Luhansk).

5 May

The SMM saw an IFV (BMP-2) in Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk).

On 4 May, the SMM saw about 1000 members of the armed formations, most of them armed, rehearsing for a parade, along with an IFV (BMP-2), in the centre of Luhansk city (see above).

Presence of mines near Krymske, Prychepylivka and Zholobok

On 3 May, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time about 100 anti-tank mines (T-62) (not seen in imagery from 1 April 2019) laid in three rows from east to west in a field about 5km south-east of Krymske (government-controlled, 42km north-west of Luhansk), near positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It also again spotted at least 50 anti-tank mines (type undetermined) laid in two partially completed rows running north-south for approximately 200m near Ukrainian Armed Forces positions south-west of Krymske. The same UAV again spotted about 150 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid out in three rows from east to west in a field about 2.5km south-east of Prychepylivka. The UAV also spotted for the first time at least 60 anti-tank mines (TM-62) (not seen in imagery from 1 April 2019) laid out in three rows near a road about 3km north of Sentianivka (formerly Frunze, non-government-controlled, 44km west of Luhansk) near positions of the armed formations.

Demining activities near Myrne and mine hazard signs near Berezivka, Bohdanivka and Chermalyk

On 5 May, on road T-0512, about 5km east of Myrne (government-controlled, 40km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw 11 members of an international demining organization conducting demining activities in a field south of the road (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 27 April 2019).

On 3 May, about 1.5km east of Berezivka (government-controlled, 44km north-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw for the first time a mine hazard sign with “Warning! Mines!” in Ukrainian about 30m south of a road leading east to Tarasivka (government-controlled, 43km north-west of Donetsk). On 4 May, about 100m north-west of Bohdanivka (non-government-controlled, 44km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw for the first time two mine hazard signs reading “Attention. Mine.” in Russian on red sign posts about 3m north of a road leading north-west to Krynychne (non-government-controlled, 45km west of Luhansk).

On 5 May, in a forested part of Bobrove (government-controlled, 56km north-west of Luhansk) bordering the Siverskyi Donets River, the SMM saw that previously-observed mine hazard signs on the south-western side of the road leading to Borivske (government-controlled, 65km north-west of Luhansk) were no longer present. A local resident (male, 65 years old) told the SMM that the signs had been removed after a military unit formerly stationed in the area had left.

On the same day, on the eastern edge of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM saw that a previously-observed red mine hazard sign with “Stop Mines” written in Ukrainian and attached to a rope extended across a road leading to a cemetery was still present.

SMM facilitation of demining activities and the operation of essential civilian infrastructure

On 4 May, the SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining activities reportedly carried out by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in and around cemeteries in government-controlled areas near Katerynivka (64km west of Luhansk) (for previous activities, see SMM Daily Report 4 May 2019). On 4 and 5 May, the SMM continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS and monitored the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).

Border areas outside of government control

On 5 May, while at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (52km south-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw six cars (five with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “LPR” plates), a bus with Ukrainian licence plates, and ten pedestrians (mixed ages and genders) entering Ukraine. After a few minutes, a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.*

On the same day, while at a pedestrian border crossing point near Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk) for about one hour, the SMM saw 25 pedestrians (mixed ages and genders) entering Ukraine, as well as 33 pedestrians (mixed ages and genders) exiting Ukraine.

Brazilian national sentenced to prison for fighting for the armed formations

On 3 May, the SMM attended the final trial hearing of Rafael Lusvarghi, a Brazilian national, versus the State at Pavlohrad city district court of the Dnepropetrovsk region. Mr. Lusvarghi was found guilty under article 258-3, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (participation in terrorist organizations) and under article 260, part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (participation in illegal military units). Mr. Lusvarghi pleaded guilty to the charges of participating in illegal military units but denied the terrorist charges. The court sentenced him to 13 years in prison.

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre on Control and Co-ordination should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• On 5 May, in the northern part of Naberezhne (non-government-controlled, 77km south of Donetsk), three armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM access to the centre of the village.
• On 5 May, at a border crossing point near Izvaryne (non-government-controlled, 52km south-east of Luhansk), a member of the armed formations told the SMM to leave the area.

Delay:

• On 5 May, at a checkpoint of the armed formations about 600m west of Verkhnoshyrokivske (formerly Oktiabr, non-government-controlled, 85km south of Donetsk), four armed members of the armed formations stopped the SMM for 20 minutes before allowing it to proceed east toward government-controlled areas.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

Other impediments:

• On 4 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight near Zaitseve (government-controlled, 62km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten bursts of small-arms fire, assessed as aimed at the UAV. The SMM safely landed the UAV (see above).
• On 5 May, the SMM followed up on reports of an injured woman at Hospital No.9 in Donetsk city. A doctor at the hospital told the Mission that he was ordered by a superior not to provide the SMM with information about the case.

[1]           For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera at Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] Due to the presence of mines, including on a road between Bohdanivka and Petrivske, the SMM cannot access its camera in Petrivske, and thus the SMM has not been able to access observations from the camera since 22 June 2018.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.